 SSDRC What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI? If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits? How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability Status Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts |
The non-medical Disability Requirements for SSD and SSIHow to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits Non-Medical Requirements The non-medical requirements for SSD and SSI generally have to do with income in the sense that a claimant cannot have earned income in excess of a limit known as SGA. SGA stands for substantial gainful activity and it basically means that while a person can work and file for (or receive) disability benefits, they cannot earn over a certain limit each month (to see the current limit: SGA). The SGA earned income limit applies to both social security disability and SSI disability. The social security administration keeps the earnings limit in place with the idea in mind that if a person can work and earn at least the SGA earnings amount, then they are probably not functionally limited enough to be "disabled". Another non-medical requirement concerns assets (also known as resources). However, the consideration of assets or resources only concerns the SSI disability program. Since SSI is based on an individual being disabled but also being in need, the SSI program limits a person's countable assets to two thousand dollars. What are countable assets? They include any vehicles you own in addition to your primary vehicle, any real estate you own other than the house you live in, the cash value - surrender value of insurance policies, and liquid assets such as money in savings accounts. Individuals who file for SSI and are found to be medically disabled (i.e. have been given an approval by a disability examiner, or by an administrative law judge at a disability hearing) are given what is known as an "end line review". This review is done to make sure that the claimant, even though they have satisfied the medical requirements and criteria for receiving disability, still qualify for SSI disability benefits under the non-medical criteria (such as not having too much in assets or earned income). Finally, a non-medical requirement that affects applicants for SSD (social security disability), but does not affect applicants for SSI is insured status. Unlike SSI, to receive SSD a person must have earned enough work credits to be considered insured for disability benefits. Whether or not a person is insured and able to receive SSD (assuming that they are also pass the medical requirements for disability) is determined at the start of the disability claim process since the social security office where a person applies will need to know which program the individual's claim should be taken in. Additional information: What are the Assets that count for SSI Disability? 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page Topics and Questions SSD and SSI are Federal Programs The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here: Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state Special Section: Tips and Advice for Social Security Disability and SSI Claims |